In this post our question comes from Clare. She writes: “My one-year-old is waking up at 4:00am, and won’t go back to sleep. Even after I nursed him. He then struggles to make it to his first nap of the day. He goes to bed at 7:30pm, and has two solid naps during the day. How can I fix this?”
First of all,
Clare, please remember that you are not alone in this. This is the number 1 question that I get from parents every day. Those parents are trying to prevent their babies from waking up too early. So in order to help I’ve got three tips for you, and for any other parent facing the same struggles.
The first would be to have a look at the darkness in the room. That’s always the first place I look. Especially as the summer months are upon us, we really need to keep light out.
People often think that the room is dark enough. But believe me, it can always be darker. Even the slightest change in light variation can stimulate a wake up in anybody. As an adult, you can look at the clock and notice that it’s not time to get up yet. A baby can’t do that. You want to get it dark in there. As dark as it would be if you walked in, in the very middle of the night.
Tip number 2
I would like to turn into concern number 2. And that’s the fact that you’re nursing him at 4:00am. Given his age, there should be absolutely no reason why your child would need a night feed. My worry with this is that 4:00am might actually start to get earlier and earlier. Instead of buying you more time, you may just lose out. As to a baby there’s no difference between a 2:00am feed and a 4:00am feed. I want you to consider stopping that breastfeed.
There’s absolutely no reason why he would need it. You might actually be stimulating him and waking him up. After his feeding, he goes back to the cot and thinks, “What are we doing here? I feel ready to go. Let’s start the day.” That’s why you’re having the struggles that you are. I hope that makes sense?
As for tip number 3: the morning nap.
You mentioned that he’s having a really hard time making it to his first nap of the day. If a baby wakes up too early in the morning, gets up and starts his day. He’s going to be fatigued fairly quickly. It’s tempting to start putting him down earlier and earlier and earlier for that morning nap, especially as a tired mum. You don’t want to do that. If you start doing this, you will get stuck in this vicious cycle of your baby waking up too early. Then going down for a nap at 7AM, and throwing off your whole day. That will just absolutely mess up his body clock. You’ll have to introduce a third nap, which will be completely foreign to him. And it’ll just cause a whole bunch of additional (and avoidable) problems.
Even though it’s really tough, you’ve really got to hang on to his normal nap time. If it’s 9:30am even if he’s been up since 4:30am. You got to hang in there until 9:30am. My advice would be to give him a bit of fresh air around 8:00am. Make sure that you give him enough snacks and food to keep his energy levels up. This will really encourage him to hang in there.
Put yourself in his shoes.
It’s similar to if you got up at 4:00am, wandered around. Maybe had a snack, and then eventually went back to bed and finished your night. That’s what’s happening here, most likely. Hang in there until the first nap of the day. I always suggest that people do not change bedtime. It’s super tempting when you’ve got an early riser. You think, “Oh, if we just keep him up late, he’ll sleep later in the morning.” That hardly ever works. In fact, all you end up doing is creating a huge amount of over-tiredness in your child. Which leads to more fragmented sleep and even earlier morning wake ups. Whatever you do, don’t do that.
I hope I’ve been able to help you Clare. I also hope you and your baby boy get that full night’s sleep really soon! If you are in a similar situation, if you’ve tried some things and it’s not improving, I’m available for one on one support to help you all get the sleep you need and deserve. Please send me a message to claudine@sweetdreams.consulting and I’d be happy to schedule a free of charge phone call with you.
Learn whether Does white noise put babies to sleep?
Hello There. I found your weblog the use of msn. That is an extremely well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read extra of your helpful info. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.
The root of your writing whilst appearing reasonable in the beginning, did not really settle properly with me personally after some time. Someplace within the paragraphs you were able to make me a believer unfortunately only for a short while. I nevertheless have a problem with your leaps in assumptions and you would do well to help fill in those breaks. In the event you can accomplish that, I will undoubtedly be impressed.
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
Thanks for this post, I am a big fan of this website would like to continue updated.
I am impressed with this website , rattling I am a fan.
I am no longer positive where you are getting your info, but great topic. I must spend a while studying much more or working out more. Thanks for fantastic info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
Hi there! I simply want to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice data you’ve here on this post. I can be coming again to your blog for more soon.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this website. I am hoping the same high-grade site post from you in the upcoming also. Actually your creative writing skills has encouraged me to get my own website now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Admiring the persistence you put into your website and detailed information you present. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I like this web site very much, Its a really nice spot to read and get information. “Words are like leaves and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.” by Alexander Pope.
magnificent publish, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
Well I truly enjoyed reading it. This tip offered by you is very useful for proper planning.
Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I will certainly digg it and in my opinion recommend to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this web site.
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
I really like assembling utile info, this post has got me even more info! .
Wohh just what I was looking for, thanks for posting.
I?¦ll immediately grab your rss feed as I can not in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me understand in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation but I in finding this matter to be actually one thing which I believe I might by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead to your subsequent put up, I will try to get the cling of it!
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
I do agree with all the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thank you
I just couldn’t leave your site prior to suggesting that I really loved the standard information a person supply on your guests? Is going to be again ceaselessly to check out new posts.
Hello.This post was extremely remarkable, particularly because I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Wednesday.
I’m now not certain the place you’re getting your info, but great topic. I must spend a while learning more or understanding more. Thank you for fantastic info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
Sweet internet site, super design and style, rattling clean and utilize pleasant.
I haven?¦t checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I?¦ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
obviously like your web site however you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I¦ll certainly come back again.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Some really prime posts on this internet site, bookmarked.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is amazing, great written and include approximately all vital infos. I’d like to see more posts like this .
Hey, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
You are a very capable individual!
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this information for my mission.
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
Hi, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, awesome blog!
Hi just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same outcome.
Thanks for some other informative web site. The place else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect approach? I have a undertaking that I’m simply now working on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information.
I am pleased that I observed this blog, exactly the right information that I was searching for! .
I like this weblog very much, Its a really nice billet to read and get information. “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” by Colin Powell.
I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
Very clear website , regards for this post.
I am very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to claim that I acquire actually loved account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing in your feeds and even I achievement you get right of entry to constantly rapidly.
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Kudos
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
This internet site is my inspiration , rattling excellent style and design and perfect subject matter.
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!